WB PWG Secretariat’s Information Paper The Fourth Meeting of the ACCSQ PWG on Woodbased Products
22 –23 August 2006, Ho Chi Minh-Viet Nam
HIGHLIGHT OF THE THIRD MEETING OF ACCSQ PWG ON WOOD-BASED PRODUCTS AND UPDATED STATUS OF WB-PWG MEMBERSHIP
The Third Meeting of ACCSQ Product Working Group on Wood-based Products (WB-PWG) was held on 15-16 December 2005, in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting was conducted in fruitful discussion and agreed some course of action to implement the Work Program of WB- PWG. For follow up action by member countries, secretariat of WB-PWG has circulated the matrix of follow up actions from the third meeting of WB-PWG.
Chairman of WB-PWG has also reported the outcomes of the meeting to the 27th ACCSQ meeting held in Penang, Malaysia on 20-22 March 2006. Some important issues was reported to ACCSQ Leaders for their consideration and follow up actions. Important issues raised are on the following items :
1. Based on the temporary result of survey, there was no technical regulations were imposed on trade in the wood-based sector among ASEAN Member Countries. There was also be noted that most of the national standards in the specific category products are not equivalent (NEQ) with the relevant of International Standards. In order to get the final findings, the remain Member Countries are requested to submit their response.
2. To prioritise the list of standards proposed for harmonization on the specific category products, namely Panel products, Sawn timber and Flooring Products, the Member Countries are requested to submit their proposal to Indonesia.
3. To cover new possible activities with the Dialogue Partners, WB-PWG propose to revise the existing TOR and work programme in the next meeting.
Secretariat of WB-PWG received the updated nomination of membership in the WB PWG from some member countries. The latest status of membership as of 20 July 2006 is as enclosed.
